The decision by Fianna Fáil to increase the number of its immigrant candidates in the June local elections, following the revelation in last week’s Metro Éireann that the party was trailing behind its main rivals, has triggered allegations that the party is playing the ethnic card.
As we reported last week, Fianna Fáil, which was concluding its candidate nomination process, had only selected two immigrants against Fine Gael’s six. The Greens had five immigrant candidates, while Labour had two.
However, Fianna Fáil’s position changed last Monday when it nominated Nigerian Idowu Sulyman Olafimihan along with three other Irish candidates to contest against two of his countrymen standing as Fine Gael and independent candidates respectively in the Mulhuddart constituency in north-west Dublin.
The Fine Gael candidate, Adeola Ogunsina, criticised Fianna Fáil for choosing Olafimihan for the sole purpose of tapping “into the immigrant sentiments”. He said he believed that the decision would not benefit the immigrant community in the area.
Ogunsina’s concerns have been shared by some members of the immigrant community, especially Nigerians in the area. They said having three immigrant candidates would badly divide the immigrant vote and may make it difficult for any one of them to be elected come June.
Also, many said they believe the decision is a desperate attempt by Fianna Fáil to save face within the Dublin 15 area, following the earlier withdrawal of two previous immigrant members from the selection process. It is believed that they were frustrated over the way the party was handling the nomination. Nigerian Ignatius Okafor, who is now standing as an independent candidate, was one of those who withdraw from the process.
Nonetheless, Metro Éireann believes that Fianna Fáil’s decision to include an immigrant as one of its candidates in the area is a welcome development. Despite the negative effects on their community that some Nigerians are expecting, we have no doubt that this an acknowledgment by Fianna Fáil of the changing times in the country.
And while we welcome the fielding of immigrant candidates by Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens, we also urge the parties to select more of them so that the growing diversity in Ireland would be properly reflected.
editor@metroeireann.com
